How Can Jesus Be Called “King”?

God promised in Ezekiel 37:24 that the chosen descendant of David, the Messiah, would be king over the newly reunited northern and southern kingdoms. Why do Christians relate this prophecy to Jesus, despite the fact that he never held this earthly title of authority?

Jesus never aspired to be an earthly king. In fact, when a throng of Jews wanted to make Jesus such a king by force, he withdrew to a mountain by himself to avoid them (see John 6:15). Jesus clearly said, “My kingdom is not of this world … my kingdom is from another place” (John 18:36). It is in this heavenly kingdom—a place where every believer will one day reside, a place where God’s laws will finally be perfectly enforced—that Jesus reigns. Jesus knew that after his life on Earth, he would return to heaven to sit at God’s right hand, where he would reign eternally as the unchallenged King (see Matthew 26:64; Acts 2:32–35). One day all will acknowledge his supremacy, all will submit to his authority, all will acknowledge him as Lord (see Philippians 2:9–11). Indeed, he already rules and reigns as a royal king over countless millions of people from every nation under the sun who have given him their total allegiance and loyalty.

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